IIs it the never-ending British rain? Poor design? Or the way they’re ridden and cleaned? Why do so many e-bike owners complain about having to replace their motors so frequently?
Some owners of mountain bikes equipped with fourth-generation Bosch electric motors 4 or 5 (yes, 5) replacement motors It was installed under a 2 year warranty. Owners of other brands say they only lasted 800-1,000 miles.
The issue appears to mainly affect mountain bikers who ride in all weather conditions, particularly in Wales and other rainiest parts of the UK, where their bikes do not seal properly against water ingress.
This week, one of the UK’s leading independent electric bicycle motor specialists eBike Motor Center The company, based in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, told Guardian Money that it receives around 250 motors of all types every month from owners desperately searching for cost-effective solutions to problems such as failing bearings, faulty torque sensors and water-damaged circuit boards.
With manufacturers demanding up to £700 for out-of-warranty replacement motors, it’s no wonder some affected people say they’ll go back to traditional bikes.
Andy Fenwick, a keen e-bike rider from Wiltshire, contacted Guardian Money to ask if we were aware of so many bikes with failing motors.
A 71-year-old man’s £5,000 Cube Bike, which has a Bosch fourth-generation electric motor, stopped working outside the warranty period.
A software update brought it back to life and it didn’t need replacing, but after scouring various cycling forums, he was surprised at the number of motors that had to be replaced. He says these units are non-repairable and the lack of availability of parts from Bosch exacerbates the problem. Some owners say Bosch has told them not to ride in the rain, which is patently unreasonable.
“E-bikes are meant to be better for the rider and better for the environment, but many motors don’t seem fit for purpose,” he says.
“I’ve seen multiple reports of riders who have had to replace them 3-5 times in a 2-year period. The error code seems to appear after a minor impact or getting too close to a magnetic source.”
“The rider’s bike was leaned up against a lamppost, [magnetic] Traffic light sensor grid on the road.
“The big problem is water – the latest units don’t seem to be able to withstand the UK weather. Every time one breaks down the whole unit has to be replaced and the old one ends up in landfill. How can that be a good thing? We need better right to repair legislation in this area.”
Fenwick said he wrote to Bosch asking them to improve the design and provide parts so the motor could be repaired, but received no response.
Bosch says: “Reliability and quality are of the utmost importance to us, and our drive units are designed to withstand many years of use. However, as with any technology product, problems can occur. We work closely with our dealers and customers to find fast, customer-centric solutions.”
He says some of the first generation motors experienced problems with water, but later models have improved seals and bearings that work better: “The latest units are protected against dust and splashes of water according to IP54 protection rating, and most error codes caused by magnetic interference disappear after a reboot.”
“In case of significant defects, the motor is recalled and further analyzed, and Bosch decides on a case-by-case basis whether it can be subjected to the remanufacturing process. The customer receives a drive unit in a perfectly functional condition after ‘end-of-line’ testing,” he says.
If the bike breaks down outside of the warranty period (usually two years for the motor) and the owner is refused repair by the manufacturer, the owner will likely have to fight with the shop or look for a cheaper way to fix it.
Consumer rights laws give buyers some redress against retailers for up to six years after purchase, but it may be hard to get relief as some dealers claim owners have abused the bike.
A faster and cheaper option is to replace the motor eBike Motor Center, A complete overhaul of most motors will cost between £250 and £370, with significantly less for minor repairs such as replacing bearings, sensors, circuit boards and other internal parts not supplied by Bosch. Customers seem to be satisfied with the service.
In the meantime, advice for e-bike riders appears to be to keep their bikes as dry as possible (easier said than done) and to wash them carefully, especially not with a pressure washer. If you have a Bosch 4 motor, stay away from magnets.
